[Terrapreta] Rice husk + fungi trial

Sean K. Barry sean.barry at juno.com
Tue Feb 5 01:15:05 CST 2008 

Hi Robert,

"I think what we can prove here is that the fungi are making nutrients that where plant unavailable now plant available."  This data in these photos is very suggestive of that hypothesis, Robert.  Many people who study VAM fungi would agree.  The way to lend the greatest support to this, though, is to validate the very low incidence of any failure of any "subsoil + biochar + fungi" mixture to ever not show improvement in the growth of plants planted in it.  But, still look closely at of for any failure or failure modes.  The more experiments you can conduct which use this combination and they all show improvements, then this will lend better support, but only to some degree.  Watch closely for the failure possibilities and modes.  Even where they are small failures.  A failure may provide the fodder for more experiments to ascertain why? Then a better understanding of the reasons for all the successes may come of that.

Keep close watch on the guys at BIOTROP to make sure they are not just affirming the consequence and not letting you test the inferences of what they are attempting to show.  When we look at these pictures and you show us and point out the "best of the best", then there may be more to learn from the "worst of the best attempts", if you know what I mean?

Regards,

SKB
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Robert Flanagan<mailto:saffechina at gmail.com> 
  To: Sean K. Barry<mailto:sean.barry at juno.com> 
  Cc: Edward Someus<mailto:edward at terrenum.net> ; terrapreta<mailto:terrapreta at bioenergylists.org> 
  Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2008 12:49 AM
  Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] Rice husk + fungi trial


  Hey Sean,

  The trees are called "Albasiah" here, (Latin name, Paraseriantes Falcataria) and they are typically harvested after three years (Remember this is the tropics).
  Yep the subsoil+biochar+fungi are much better, it's really quite something to see up close! 
  My plan is to remove and wash the roots before taking the next round of photos on day90 so this should give us a quick idea of what really went on above and below the ground.
  We added no fertilizer as we wanted to see the true effect of the fungi and char. 
  I'm hoping the guys at BIOTROP will carry out all the tests to retrieve as much data as possible and then publish their findings.

  Now the reason we used subsoil and not sterilized sand was we wanted to see the possibilities for amending poor soil with biochar. Now what we found looks very promising but there is lots more to learn here. Now I stand to be corrected on the next statement, "I think what we can prove here is that the fungi are making nutrients that where plant unavailable now plant available". If this is so when using biochar we should also consider using products in the biochar to stimulate local biology growth or look at simple ways to extract and cultivate local beneficial bacteria and fungi to boost our biochar.

  I'll added a one pager that I've been working on to give you some idea where I'm heading with these trials, please feel free to comment!

  I'll do my best to get good photos and pass them on when this trial finishes.

  Regards,
  Rob.

  On Feb 5, 2008 1:49 PM, Sean K. Barry <sean.barry at juno.com<mailto:sean.barry at juno.com>> wrote:

    Hi Robert,

    Thanks for fixing that link.  Are the trees in those tubes a kind of broadleaf evergreen?  At 4-6" (it looks like) in those tubes, how fast do these trees grow pulp wood?  The subsoil+biochar+fungi are very green and larger plants by some degree already.  It will be very interesting to see how much the vegetative growth of those plans stays ahead of the control.  Will these tests never use fertilizer on the trees?  Is that how the pulpwood growers grow them?  I would be very curious about the growth in the root zone too.  Will there be any tests on mass growth measurement?

    Thanks for the interesting pictures.  It makes me want it to be spring here or build a green house or something.  We are seeing light snow today, after some wicked cold snaps (-15F to -22F) at night.  I envy your BIOTROP(ical) jaunts, I think.

    Regards,

    SKB
      ----- Original Message ----- 
      From: Robert Flanagan<mailto:agrisonic at gmail.com> 
      To: Edward Someus<mailto:edward at terrenum.net> ; terrapreta<mailto:terrapreta at bioenergylists.org> 
      Sent: Monday, February 04, 2008 10:17 PM
      Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] Rice husk + fungi trial


      Hey Edward,

      Sorry this is the working link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvo1w8gFSts<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvo1w8gFSts> , hope you enjoy!

      Rob.


      On Feb 5, 2008 11:39 AM, Edward Someus <edward at terrenum.net<mailto:edward at terrenum.net>> wrote:

              Robert, 

              On this web page it was indicated that it has been removed from web 

                  This video has been removed by the user. 

              ??




              Sincerely yours: Edward Someus (environmental engineer)
              Terra Humana Clean Tech Ltd. (ISO 9001/ISO 14001)
              3R Environmental Technologies Ltd. 
              ADDRESS: H-1222 Budapest, Szechenyi 59, Hungary
              TEL handy:  +(36-20) 201 7557
              TEL / FAX:   +(36-1) 424 0224
              TEL SKYPE phone via computer:  Edward Someus
              3R TERRACARBON:   http://www.terrenum.net <>
              3R CLEANCOAL ENERGY: http://www.nvirocleantech.com<http://www.nvirocleantech.com/> 
              <http://www.vertustechnologies.com/>
              -------Original Message-------

              From: Robert Flanagan<mailto:agrisonic at gmail.com>
              Date: 2008.02.05. 4:21:16
              To: 'terrapreta'<mailto:terrapreta at bioenergylists.org>
              Subject: [Terrapreta] Rice husk + fungi trial

              Hi,

              I just got to visit my biochar trial at BIOTROP today so I took a few photos to give all you some idea of the profound difference biochar makes to subsoil http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYOat-FSI1o<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYOat-FSI1o> .

              Rob.

             
                     
             


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  -- 
  Robert Flanagan
  Chairman & President
  Hangzhou Sustainable Agricultural Food & Fuel Enterprise Co., Ltd.

  Skype "saffechina"
  Tel:   86-571-881-850-67
  Cell:  86-130-189-959-57 
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